A tribute to David Nelson: The best way to honor our friend’s memory is to be more like him by emulating the wonderful ways he treated others

By Terry Greenberg

We could all be more like David Nelson.

That’s what I’ve been thinking since David – a friend to so many of us – was killed while riding his bicycle on a rural road west of Lubbock.

That’s what I was thinking when I went to his visitation with so many people it took about an hour to get through the line to greet David’s wife Ainsley, his brother Jack and sister Jill.

And those thoughts kept flowing over me during his Service of Worship and Praise at First Christian Church where the crowd filled the sanctuary and overflow room.

That greeting … do we do it?

People talked about David’s warm greetings – his smile, firm handshake and how he looked you in the eye.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot.

So many of us are greeted by a friend or acquaintance who asks, “How are you?” and we go off on a litany of what’s wrong.

Maybe it’s not because we’re terribly negative, but our minds naturally focus on challenges. We don’t spend most of our days focused on what’s good in our lives, because it’s human nature to take it for granted.

We get absorbed in ourselves and our problems.

We get absorbed in ourselves and our problems.

I’m guilty of that and try to do better, but I don’t do it well every day.

‘I’m a better person because of David’

David did and made it seem effortless.

That and more were mentioned numerous times during the service.

Such as:

“Was there a more joyful, happy servant?”

“You got David’s very, very best.”

“He understood the value of presence and doing what he said he’d do.”

“I’m a better person because of David.”

“A genuine, compassionate person who wanted to make a difference.”

“His enthusiasm was contagious.”

He made people comfortable and feel important.

“He made people comfortable and feel important.”

“He was all in … he didn’t just stick his toe in.”

“The Lubbock community is better off because of David Nelson.”

“A shining example of how to treat people.”

“He was loving, loyal and humble.”

“He didn’t take, he gave.”

“If something was going on in our family, David was there,” said longtime friend Mark Griffin.

David would attend Mark’s son’s baseball games.

Of course, David loved baseball.

But he also went to Mark’s daughter’s dance recitals.

“Even when I didn’t want to go,” Mark told the audience at the church.

Phil Gamble met David in third grade in Lubbock and they were roommates at Texas Tech University School of Law.

‘I hope you stay friends with David Nelson because he’s something special.’

“My mom said ‘I hope you stay friends with David Nelson because he’s something special,’” Phil said at the service.

David would join the Gambles on vacations and when Phil couldn’t go for some reason, his parents would ask if David could still come.

Congressman Jodey Arrington said: “I wouldn’t be where I am or who I am without David Nelson.”

David’s death came at a time we were looking forward to him wearing judge’s robes starting next year.

“His death was untimely because he was still rising,” said Rev. Paul Carpenter. “Some lives end on a slide downward, David was climbing to the end.”

How can we be more like David?

May we be worthy of having 5 percent of what you just read said at our funerals.

May we be worthy of having 5 percent of what you just read said at our funerals.

So we can honor his memory by being like David, who strove to be Christ-like.

What wonderful role models.

How can we more like David?

Smile and shake hands or hug your friends when you meet them.

Look them in the eye while you talk.

Ask about them more than you talk about yourself.

Be there for your friends.

If you say you’ll do something, do it.

Be involved. You don’t have to serve on the City Council like David did, but find a way to serve.

Love God.

Love others.

If we were all more like David every day, we’d have a better world – and what a great way to honor the memory of this man, who was beloved because of how he loved.

One more way to honor David

David was Lubbock born and raised.

Monterey High School.

Texas Tech University.

Texas Tech School of Law.

An endowed scholarship in David’s name has been established at the law school. To honor our friend, please send your donation to:

Terry Greenberg

Terry Greenberg is editor and business manager of Lubbock Lights. He worked in the newspaper industry for almost 40 years, 33 of those as editor of eight newspapers in five states. He was editor of the Avalanche-Journal from 2006-2015. He now runs his own media company, Greenberg Media Management. He is a native of Los Angeles and loves living in Lubbock, Texas.